Swinging gate



(No Model.)

C. L. HUDLER. SWINGING GATE.

N0. 436.421.4 Patented Sept. 16, 1890- @wf r @maw Z @512i ewcomamip UNITED STATES PATENT a OEEICE.

CHARLES L. HUDLER, or HERMITAGE, MIssoiuRI.

swlNeiNG GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,421, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed December 30, 1889. Serial No. 335,330. (No model.) g

and lowering the gate to permit of the passage thereunder of small stock or for the avoidance of mud or snow.

Vith these general objects in view the invention consists in certain `features of construction, hereinafter speciiied, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a gate constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the latch-post, which in this instance is set into the ground and is stationary and may or may not be provided with a latch of any character adapted to fasten the gate when closed and liberate the same when actuated, which latter is accomplished by the mechanism hereinafter described.

2 represents a side sill, upon which near its center there is mounted opposite the post 1 a pair of vertical parallel posts 3, braced to the sill by means of opposite inclined braces 4:. The posts 3 are each provided with a series of perforations 5, and between said posts there is mounted a sliding hinge-post 6, having cleats 7 secured thereto at one side near its upper and lower ends, the ends of the cleats overlapping the parallel posts.

8 represents a pivoted bar secured to the sliding post at about its center, the ends of said bar overlapping the parallel posts, and

oted bar and pins.

sliding post is provided with vertically-opposite brackets 10, upon which is hung the swinging gate 11, which may be of any ordinary construction.

At each side of the gate and at the opposite ends of the sill there are set into the ground vertical posts 12, having eyes 13, and from each of theinclined braces project similar eyes 13*, and in each pair of eyes thus located there is mounted an inclined rock-shaft 14, said shafts terminating at their outer ends in operating cross-bars 15. The inner ends of the rock-shafts are loosely connected by means of a toggle-joint 19, so that a rotation or partial rotation of one rock-shaft produces a similar movement upon the part of the other. One of the rock-shafts near its lower bearing is provided witha rock-arm 21, vwhich when in a horizontal position rests in anotch 22, formed in the adjacent inclined brace, so that the strain caused by the weight of the arm is not imparted to the rock-shafts and their bearings. A staple 22"" projects from the forward end of the rock-arm, and loosely linked with the same is a staple 23, projecting from the rear endof a pitman or connecting-rod 24, the opposite end of which is-provided with a hook 25, which is adapted to take into either of a series of staples 26, se-

cured to the usual vertical brace 27 of the gate.. The object of this series of staples is to adaptthe pitman for connection ata proper point regardless of the vertical adjustment of the gate. v

To operate the gate it Will be at once obvious from the previous description that it is simply necessary to turn the rock-shaft through the medium of its cross-arms, whether on horseback, in a vehicle, or on foot, which operation swings the rock-arm to one side, drawing upon the pitman and swinging open the gate. After passing through the gate, the same may be closed byareversal of the above operation through the medium of the opposite rock-shaft. Through the medium of the pivoted bar the removable pins, and the perforated parallel posts, it will at once be apparent that any sag in the gate may be cornpensated for by an elevation of the hingepost; also, that the gate may be raised to permit of the passage thereunder of small stock or for the purpose of avoiding mud or snow IOC or other obstructions calculated to impede the gate i-n its swinging movements. By inclining the rock-shafts the arm 22 travels in an inclined path and toward the post, so that said arm exerts a tendency to lift the free end of the gate simultaneous with its swinging movement. In this manner the gate is not dragged and broken, but any ordinary sagging is compensated for and ordinary ob` stacles passed. Furthermore, the inclined posts cross the rock-shafts nearer the centers of the latter, so that they provide lbeari-ingsat better locations than if the bearings Were only at the ends of the shafts.

By the above description it will be seen thatI have provided an extremely simple, cheap, and positivelyoperating gate, and have avoided in its construction the use of springs, cords, or ropes or any material calculated toV be impaired or rotted by the atmosphere, dampness, dto. It Will also. be noticed that the only really stationary parts of the .gate are the latch-postand the two opposite posts for supporting the rock-shafts, Wherebythe easy transportation of the gate from one point to another and the setting up of the sanne is positively assured. Thehi'ngeposts are of course supported by the adjacent fence-panel, as vvill be readily understood.

Having thus described myzinve-ntion, what I claim is- I '1. The combination, with opposite vertical -guide-posts having a series of perforations, of the VV hinge-post mounted for sliding betweenthe same and having cleats engaging saidv posts, a pivoted bar mounted on the yhinge-post and overlapping the guide-posts,

Yremovable pins for insertion in the perforat-ions below the ends of the bar, and a gate hinged to the post, substantially as speciiied.

2. The combination, with a gate-post and a gate, of opposite rock-shafts inclined toward each other, bearings for the same and an intermediate coupling, and a rock-arm projecting from one of the shafts and loosely connected with the gate, substantially as specied.

3. The combination, with a hinge-post and a gate, of opposite rock-shafts inclined toward each other, bearings for the l.same and a loose connection for the ends of the shafts, a rock-arm projecting from one of the shafts, and a pitinan having one end loosely connected With the rock-arm and the other With agate, substantially as specied.

, 4. The combination, with a vertically-sliding hinge-,post and means for adjusting the same and a gate pivot-ed thereto, of opposite rock-shafts loosely connected at their inner ends, bearings for the rock-shafts, an arm projecting from one of said shafts, a pitman having -One end loosely connected with the arm and terminating at its opposite end in a hook, and a series of vertically-arranged staples or eyes on the gate for engaging said hOok,=sub stantially as specified. f

5. The combination, with the sill, .the opposite verticalpost-s having a series yof perforations and the opposite inclined braces, of the intermediate sliding hinge-.post loosely connected with said posts, a pivoted bar on the hinge-post and pins for insertion under thesame and into the perforations, a gate' hinged to the sliding post, posts arranged'op- Vposite the ends of the sill, bearings `mounted on said posts and on the inclined braces, in-

clined rock-shafts mounted in the bearings and provided at their outer ends with crossarms and with a loose connection at ltheir inner ends, a rock-arm mounted on oneof the shafts and resting normally in a notch'formed in the adjacent inclined brace, an eye projecting 'at the end of t-he rock-arm and engaging a pit-man -having a similar eye projecting from its rear end, a hook projectingfrom the opposite end of said pitrnan, and aseries of staples projecting from the gate, either one of which is adapted to lengage the hook, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto atlixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES L. HUDLER. Witnesses:

J. HOUSTON CHILDERS, JOSEPH S. HARTMAN. 

